First national Women's Futsal team formed along with police

Maldives' first national Women's Futsal team has been formed in order to compete in the first SAFF Futsal Championship which will be held in Thailand from 13th January to 25th January.

Even though FAM held the Women's Football League last month in order to establish national football and futsal teams, the police had denied players in the agency the opportunity to compete in the league. Due to this, the league proceeded without said players.

Nevertheless, futsal team training was conducted while giving an opportunity to said players. Two players have been chosen for the final squad as well. The players Mariyam Rifa and Raniya Ibrahim, who are also a part of the national football team.

While the national futsal team has 14 players who have been chosen, they are all players who have also played for the national football team. The only player to have been newly chosen for the national team is New Radiant's Fathimath Faiha Ali who had competed in the FAM Women's League last month.

The national futsal team that will be playing in the SAFF Championship:

Arrangements have been made for national Women's Football team coach Mohamed Athif (Athi) to be the coach for the national futsal team, with the Assistant Coach being Bis Buru Sports Coach Mohamed Ihusan Saeed (Liuby). Ibrahim Ahmed has been chosen as the Goalkeeper Trainer, with Aminath Siyana being chosen as the Team Manager.

Siyana held the position of Head Coach for Victory Sports Club in the Women's Football League. Victory finished third in the league and was the only team to have been instructed by a female coach. The team's coaching staff was entirely composed of women. 

Seven teams will be competing in the SAFF Futsal Championship. The opening match on 13th January will be played between Maldives and India. Maldives' second match will be played against Nepal. The subsequent team Maldives will be playing against are Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and lastly, Bangladesh in the final match.

The national Men's Futsal team is also preparing for the SAFF Futsal Championship. The men's team will be finalized after they finish the training camp currently being held in China, with the team under the instruction of Uzbekistan coach Farrukh Zakirov.